Writing instrument



March 1, 1966 F. T. JOHMANN WRITING INSTRUMENT Original Filed June 16, 1960 United States Patent 3,237,604 WRITING INSTRUMENT .Frank T. Johmann, 49 Hampton Drive, Berkeley Heights, NJ. Continuation of application Ser. No. 36,657, June 16, 1960. This application Feb. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 257,372 3 Claims. (Cl. 12042.03)

This application is a continuation of my prior U.S. patent application Serial No. 36,657 filed June 16, 1960, entitled Writing Instruments and now abandoned.

This invention relates to a clip for writing instruments and similar objects. Particularly, the invention relates to a pocket clip carried by a writing instrument in a recessed position when not in use and which may be projected into an operative position.

In the preferred form of the present invention, I provide a transversely movable clip which is mounted on the barrel of a ballpoint pen having a retractable writing point. Specifically, the clip is mounted for transverse movement between a retracted position where it lies in a recess formed in the pen barrel, and a protracted or operative position wherein the clip is projected sufficiently from its recess so as to be engage-able with a pocket. The activation of the clip between its two positions occurs simultaneously upon actuation of the retractable writing point. With the point of the ballpoint pen protracted for writing operation, the clip is maintained within its recessed or inoperative position. Upon actuating the retraction mechanism so as to withdraw the writing point into the casing of the instrument, the clip is projected sufl'lciently so that it is in a position for engagement with a pocket. Subsequently, when the writing point is again moved to its protracted or writing position, the clip is simultaneously allowed to return to its recessed or retracted position. I thus provide a clip which is automatically positioned into a clipping or projecting position when the writing point is withdrawn. On the other hand, once the point is exposed for writing, the clip is withdrawn into a substantially flush position within the casing. By means of the above, the appearance of the instrument has been streamlined and improved. Furthermore, by this method it now becomes feasible to provide clips for short ballpoint pens, since the recessed clip will not interfere with the hand grip on the instrument during writing. Fhus, heretofore, short writing instruments are generally not provided with clips, because a clip would interfere with the hand grip during writing.

My invention can be embodied in a ballpoint pen having a'con-vent-ional pushbutton at the top of the instrument. The device of the invention can also be used with ballpoint pens having tip-actuated retractable points, i.e. the ballpoint is retracted or protracted by pressing the writing end of the instrument against a rigid surface.

The invention will be further understood by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings which include a preferred form of my invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view illustrating a pushbutton actuated ballpoint pen having its writing point exposed and its clip withdrawn into a recessed position within the barrel.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the pen of FIGURE 1, with the writing point retracted and the clip projected preparatory to clipping the instrument to a pocket.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the clip and its spring.

FIGURE 4 is a, cross-sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 1 to further illustrate the casing.

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FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional View illustrating the clip when recessed within the barrel.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagram, wherein the latching elements have been developed into a single plane, which illustrates the position of the latch at various stages of the retraction and pro-traction of the writing point.

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a tipactuated ballpoint pen showing the point in an exposed writing position and the clip withdrawn into the barrel.

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the writing instrument of FIGURE 7, showing the point withdrawn into the barrel and the clip projected into a clipping position.

Reference is now made to the drawings in detail, with particular reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 6. Here the casing of the writing instrument includes the upper barrel section :10 and the lower barrel section 11, said sections being joined by threaded engagement with the tubular plug 12. The tubular barrel section 10 is provided with a longitudinally extending recess 13 terminating at its upper end in a slot 14 which extends transversely through the barrel. A cap 15 frictionally engages the upper end of the tubular barrel section 10 and is formed with an aperture or bore 16. The pocket clip includes the main clip or leg port-ion 17 having at its upper end a transverse portion 18 carrying a flange 19. A small flat spring 21 has its upper end formed into a hook 21a which is embedded or 'fixed with-in the cap 15. The lower end of said spring is bifurcated and passes over the portion 18 of the clip, bearing against the flange 19 and urging said clip inwardly to its seated position within the recess 13.

The bore extending through the lower portion of tubular barrel section 11 is twice reduced in its diameter to thereby form the inner annular shoulders 20 and 200. A point and cartridge unit mounted within said casing for reciprocal longitudinal movement includes the tubul ar main ink reservoir 22 having the flange or flattened portion 23. At the lower end of said reservoir 22 is carried the small-diameter feed tube 24 to thereby define the shoulder 25. The feed tube 24, in turn, carries the writing ball 26 at its lower end. A coil compression spring 27, disposed around said reservoir 22 between the flange 23 and the shoulder 20, normally urges said point and cartridge unit upwardly to a retracted position within the casing. Abutting the upper end of the reservoir 22 is cylindrical latch member 28, having an intermediate conical portion 29 which terminates in the pushbutton or stem 30. The lower end of the member 28 is formed with a transversely extending groove or vent so as to permit the entrance of air into the interior of the reservoir tube 22. An annular groove 31 formed in said cylindrical member 28, carries a latching or locking ball 32. Adapted for engagement with said locking ball 32 are the tubular latch members 33 and 34 disposed in fixed and spaced relationship to each other within the sleeve 35. The sleeve 35, in turn, is fixed within the barrel section 10. The upper latch member 33 is formed with downwardly extending teeth 36 and 37, each of said teeth having a tapered edge and a substantially vertical edge. The lower member 34 is formed with two upwardly extending teeth 38' and 39, each of said teeth also having a tapered edge and a substantially vertical edge. All of said edges or sides of teeth 36, 37, 38 and 39 are adapted for engagement with the locking ball 32 3 39. The locking ball 32, however, is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the member 28 following the path defined by said groove 31.

The operation of the embodiment of FIGURES l to 6 will now be described with particular reference to the diagram of FIGURE 6. Here, the latching ball 32 is indicated by the small circles, while the enclosed letters denote its position at various stages of the retractionprotraction cycle.

FIGURE 1 shows the instrument in a protracted position with the ballpoint 26 exposed for writing. It will be noted that the locking ball 32 is within the shallow recess (position a of FIGURE 6) defined by teeth 36 and 37. Upon depression of the pushbutton or plunger 30, the locking ball 32 is moved downward against the pressure of the spring 27. The ball 32 first moves downward out of engagement within the shallow recess and then into engagement with the tapered edge of the lower tooth 39 (position b). Further downward movement of the pushbutton causes the ball 32 to ride along said tapered surface until stopped by the vertical edge of the tooth 38 (position c). Upon release of the plunger 30, the compression coil spring 27 will expand, moving the reservoir tube 22 upwardly, which in turn moves upwardly the member 28 and its locking ball 32. The ball 32 will next move upwardly into engagement with the tapered edge of the tooth 36 (position d), along which it will move until stopped ,by the vertical edge of the tooth 37 (position e). The ball is now within the deep recess defined by teeth 37 and 36, and further upward movement is prevented. The result is that the ballpoint 26 is now held withdrawn in a retracted position within the barrel. While the member 28 moved upwardly, as noted above, its conical portion 29, which engages the inner end of the transverse portion 18 of the clip, has succeeded in moving the clip outwardly into a projecting position against the pressure of the flat spring 21; The total result is that the instrument is now in the position shown in FIGURE 2 with its ballpoint retracted and its clip protracted.

To protract the ballpoint, the pushbutton 30 is again depressed into the casing, thereby carrying the locking ball 32 downwardly out of the deep recess between teeth 36 and 37 and into contact with the tapered side of the tooth 38 (position of FIGURE6). Upon further downward movement, the ball 32 moves along the tapered side of the tooth 38 until stopped by the substantially vertical edge of the tooth 39 (position g). Upon subsequent release of the pushbutton 30, the ball 32 is moved upward-1y since the expansion of the spring 27 moves the member 28 upwardly. The ball 32 soon comes into contact with the tapered edge of the tooth 37 (position h) and is thereby directed into the shallow recess (position a). The conical portion 29 is thereby retained again in its lower position against the pressure of spring 27. Meanwhile, the flat spring 21 returns to its original straight position and in doing so moves the clip to its retracted position. The whole assembly assumes the original position of FIGURE 1.

In the embodiments of FIGURES 7 and 8, I show a tip-actuated pen, i.e. the writing point is either retracted or protracted by pressing the writing end of the instrument down against a rigid surface and then lifting the instrument clear of said surface. Here, the lower portion of the barrel section 11 carries a longitudinally movable tubular hood 40. The outer end 41 of said hood is tapered inwardly so as to appear as a mere extension of the barrel. The inner end of said hood 40 is formed with an annular flange 42 which is engageable against the interior annular lip 20' formed in the barrel section 11. The bore extending through the tubular hood 40 is reduced in its cross-section at its lower end to form an exterior annular lip 43. The point and cartridge unit is mounted for longitudinal movement between a pr racted position wherein its point 26 is extended through the outer end of said hood 40 and a retracted position wherein its point 26 is concealed within said hood. The upper end of the cartridge uni-t seats against the actuating latch member 44, which in turn is formed with an annular groove which carries a locking ball 32. The cylindrical latch element 44 has the upwardly extending conical portion 45, the stem portion 46 and the boss portion 47 which latter is adapted for seating a coil spring. An air vent 48, transversely extending across the lower end of the member 44, allows the passage of air to the interior of the tubular ink reservoir 22. The latch receiving mechanism is similar to that shown in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 6, except that the latch members are reversed with regard to one another. Specifically, the latch member '33 is now disposed within the lower portion of the sleeve 35, while the latch member 34 is now disposed within the upper portion of said sleeve. Sleeve 35, in turn, is fixed within the upper barrel section 10' as by frictional engagement, gluing, etc., while said members 33 and 34 are fixed within the sleeve 35.

The cap portion 15' is formed with a closed end and carries on its underside the cylindrical boss 49. A relatively strong compression spring 50, seated against the bosses 47 and 49, normally urges the member 44 downwardly. This, in turn, urges the cartridge unit also downwardly to its normally projecting position. It will be noted that in FIGURE 7, the latching ball 32 is at the bottom of the deep recess defined between the teeth 36 and 37. To operate the pen, the lower end of the instrument is pressed firmly downward against a rigid surface. This forces the point 26 and the hood 40 inwardly relative to the barrel section 11'. As the point 26 moves inwardly, the latch member 44 is moved upwardly against pressure of the spring 50. The locking ball 32 will then engage the tapered side of the upper tooth 38. Upon further upward movement, the ball 32 will move along said tapered side until stopped by the vertical side of the tooth 39. Upon release of the lower end of the instrument from contact with the aforesaid rigid surface, the latching member 44, along with its locking ball 32, moves downward under the influence of the relatively strong spring 50. The ball 32 then comes into contact with the tapered side of the lower tooth 37 along which it moves until stopped by the vertical side of the tooth 36. The ball 32 is now retained in the shallow recess between teeth 37 and 36 and its carrier 44 is further upward within the barrel than before, thereby effectively shortening the spring 50. Since the spring 50 is held shortened, the weaker compression coil spring 27 is expanded. This results in maintaining the point and cartridge unit further upward within the casing than before, while at the same time urging the hood 40 to its normal projecting position. The point 26 is now held concealed within the hood 40. Because of the preceding, the conical surface 45 is also disposed further upward within the barrel. The conical surface 45, in moving up, acts as a cam against the inner end of the transverse portion 18 of the clip. By means of this cam action, the main portion 17 of the clip is moved to a protracted position against the pressure of spring 21, being moved sufiiciently out of its recessed position to allow passage over a pocket.

When ready for writing use, the instrument may be pulled off of the pocket material and the writing point26 protracted by pressing the writing end of the instrument .down against a rigid surface. The cartridge unit will move inwardly as before, carrying the latch member 44 and locking ball also upwardly. The locking ball 32 will thereby engage the tapered edge of the upper tooth 39 and be guided along said edge until stopped by a vertical edge of the tooth 38. Then upon release of the instrument from contact with said rigid surface, the ball 32 and member 44 will move downwardly under action of the compressed spring 50. However, the ball 32 will now strike the tapered edge of the tooth 36 and will be thereby guided to its original position in the deep recess as shown in FIGURE 7. The result is that the ballpoint 26 is protracted and the conical surface 45 is moved downwardly Within the casing. This allows the spring 21' to resume its original position of FIGURE 6 and in so doing moves the clip to its original recessed position.

FIGURES 2 and 8 show the clip projected to an extent where its leg 17 is completely out of its recess. However, it is only necessary that the clip be partially projected from the recess sufficient to let the pocket material be forced between the clip and the casing.

Many minor variations may be made in the invention. For example, latching mechanisms other than those shown may be used. The hood 40 of FIGURES 7 and 8 can be replaced by a longitudinally compressible tip, say of rubber, fixed to the lower end of the casing 11'. The pushbutton 30 of FIGURES 1 and 2 can project through a slot in the side of the casing opposite the clip and still be longitudinally movable to operate the mechanism. While the embodiments of the drawings show the latch movable with the cartridge and the latch receiver fixed to the casing, the reversed positions can also result in operable devices. To illustrate, the latch members 33 and 34 of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 6 can be fixed to the member 28 and movable therewith, while the ball 32 can be carried in an annular groove formed in the inner wall of the sleeve 35. Then, instead of the ball 32 moving relative to the longitudinally immovable latch members 33 and 34, the ball 32 would be longitudinally immovable and the latch members 33 and 34 would now be longitudinally movable relative to said ball. These and other variations are within the scope of my broad invention, although the embodiments of the drawings are preferred.

I claim:

1. A ballpoint writing instrument having a retractable writing point at its lower end and a retractable clip proximate its upper end comprising: a casing having an upper end and an open lower end, said casing being formed with a clip receiving recess; a clip member having an inner portion and an outer surface, said clip member being mounted on said casing proximate said upper end of said casing for transverse movement between: (a) a clipretracted position wherein said clip member is retracted within said clip receiving recess whereby said outer surface is substantially fiush with said casing, and (b) a clip-protracted position wherein said clip member is transversely projected sufliciently from said clip receiving recess to permit clipping said instrument to a pocket; a ballpoint cartridge unit longitudinally movable within said casing between a point-retracted position and a pointprojected position; an actuator unit longitudinally movable with said ballpoint cartridge unit and in camming engagement with said inner portion of said clip member; latching means comprising a latch receiving tubular ratchet element defining on its circumference a deep longitudinally extending recess and a shallow longitudinally extending recess, and a pawl element alternately engagable within said recesses, one of said elements being held by said casing and the other of said elements being longitudinally carried by one of said units; said actuator unit and said cartridge unit being longitudinally movable together relative to said casing upon the application and release of longitudinally directed force exerted upon one of said units whereby said actuator unit cams said clip member to said clip-protracted position, and said pawl element is directed to engagement within one of said recesses to obtain said cartridge unit in said point-retracted position, said actuator unit and said cartridge unit being longitudinally movable together relative to said casing upon a subsequent application and release of said longitudinally directed force to move said clip member to said clip-retracted position and direct said pawl element to engagement within the other of said recesses to obtain said cartridge unit in said point-projected position.

2. A writing instrument having a retractable writing point and a retractable clip comprising, a tubular casing defining open upper and lower ends, said casing further defining a clip recess for reception of a clip proximate its upper end, a cartridge unit having a point at its lower end for projection through the open lower end of said casing, a first spring disposed within said casing urging said cartridge unit to a point-retracted position, a longitudinally movable latch unit having an inner portion engageable against said cartridge unit and an outer pushbutton portion extendable through the upper end of said casing, said latch unit defining a cam surface, a latch receiver carried within said casing defining a longitudinally extending shallow recess and a longitudinally extending deep recess, a clip having an outer longitudinal extending portion receivable within said clip recess whereby said outer longitudinally extending portion is flush with said casing and a transversely extending inner portion, a second spring enclosed within said casing urging the inner portion of said clip into abutting engagement against said cam surface, said latch unit being engageable in said shallow recess to maintain said cartridge unit in a point-protracted position and said clip in said clip-retracted position, said latch unit engageable in said deep recess to allow said cartridge unit to move to a point-retracted position under influence of said first spring and to transversely cam said clip to said clip-protracted position against the urging of said second spring, said latch unit being shifted back and forth between engagement in said shallow recess and said deep recess upon longitudinal movements of said latch units obtained upon successive sequences of application and release of inwardly directed force applied to the pushbutton portion of said latch assembly.

3. A writing instrument having a tip-actuated retractable writing point and a retractable clip comprising a casing having an open lower end and a clip receiving recess proximate its upper end, a longitudinal movable tubular hood carried by the lower end of said casing, a cartridge unit including a writing point longitudinally movable within said hood between a point-retracted position and a point-protracted position, a first spring urging said hood to a projecting position and said cartridge unit to a point-retracted position, a latch movable with the upper end of said cartridge unit and defining a cam surface, a second spring urging said latch downwardly relative to said casing, a latch receiver carried within said casing defining a deep recess and a shallow recess, a clip having an inner end engageable with said cam surface, said clip being transversely movable relative to said recess between a clip-retracted position wherein said clip I is protracted sufiiciently from said recess to permit clipping said instrument to a pocket, and a clip-retracted position wherein said clip is within said recess and the outer surface of said clip is substantially flush with the adjacent outer surface of said casing, a third spring enclosed within said casing urging said clip inner end into engagement with said cam surface, said latch when engaged within said deep recess being operable to allow said cartridge unit to be extended to said point-protracted position under the influence of said second spring and to allow said clip to be moved to said clip-retracted position under influence of said third spring, said latch when engaged in said shallow recess being operable to retain said cartridge unit in said point-retracted position against the urging of said second spring and to cam said clip to said clip-protracted position and maintain said clip in said clipprotracted position against the pressure of said third spring, said latch being shifted back and forth between engagement in said shallow recess and said deep recess upon longitudinal movement of said cartridge unit obtained by successive sequences of application and release of inwardly directed pressure applied to said point.

(References on following page) 3,237,604; V 7 8 References Cited by the Examiner 810,719 3/ 1959 Great Britain. 822,259 10/ 1959 Great Britain. UNITED STATES PATENTS v 524,128 4/1955 Italy. 2,416,112 2/1947 Moore 120-4203 2,583,142 1/1952 Fl'entzel 5 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO; Primary Examiner.

FOREIGN PATENTS LAWRENCE CHARLES, JEROME SCHNALL,

1,086,929 8/1954 France.

Examiners 

1. A BALLPOINT WRITING INSTRUMENT HAVING A RETRACTABLE WRITING POINT AT ITS LOWER END AND A RETRACTABLE CLIP PROXIMATE ITS UPPER END COMPRISING: A CASING HAVING AN UPPER END AND AN OPEN LOWER END, SAID CASING BEING FORMED WITH A CLIP RECEIVING RECESS; A CLIP MEMBER HAVING AN INNER PORTION AND AN OUTER SURFACE, SAID CLIP MEMBER BEING MOUNTED ON SAID CASING PROXIMATE SAID UPPER END OF SAID CASING FOR TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT BETWEEN: (A) A CLIPRETRACTED POSITION WHEREIN SAID CLIP MEMBER IS RESTRACTED WITHIN SAID CLIP RECEIVING RECESS WHEREBY SAID OUTER SURFACE IS SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH SAID CASING, AND (B) A CLIP-PROTRACTED POSITION WHEREIN SAID CLIP MEMBER IS TRANSVERSELY PROJECTED SUFFICIENTLY FROM SAID CLIP RECEIVING RECESS TO PERMIT CLIPPING SAID INSTRUMENT TO A POCKET; A BALLPOINT CARTRIDGE UNIT LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE WITHIN SAID CASING BETWEEN A POINT-RETRACTED POSITION AND A POINTPROJECTED POSITION; AN ACTUATOR UNIT LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE WITH SAID BALLPOINT CARTRIDGE UNIT AND IN CAMMING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID INNER PORTION OF SAID CLIP MEMBER; LATCHING MEANS COMPRISING A LATCH RECEIVING TUBULAR RATCHET ELEMENT DEFINING ON ITS CIRCUMFERENCE A DEEP LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RECESS AND A SHALLOW LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDNG RECESS, AND A PAWL ELEMENT ALTERNATELY ENGAGEABLE WITHIN SAID RECESSES, ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING HELD BY SAID CASING AND THE OTHER OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING LONGITUDINALLY CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID UNITS; SAID ACTUATOR UNIT AND SAID CARTRIDGE UNIT BEING LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE TOGETHER RELATIVE TO SAID CASING UPON THE APPLICATION AND RELEASE OF LONGITUDINALLY DIRECTED FORCE EXERTED UPON ONE OF SAID UNITS WHEREBY SAID ACTUATOR UNIT CAMS SAID CLIP MEMBER TO SAID CLIP-PROTRACTED POSITION, AND SAID PAWL ELEMENT IS DIRECTED TO ENGAGEMENT WITHIN ONE OF SAID RECESSES TO OBTAIN SAID CARTRIDGE UNIT IN SAID POINT-RETRACTED POSITION, SAID ACTUATOR UNIT AND SAID CARTRIDGE UNIT BEING LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE TOGETHER RELATIVE TO SAID CASING UPON A SUBSEQUENT APPLICATION AND RELEASE OF SAID LONGITUDINALLY DIRECTED FORCE TO MOVE SAID CLIP MEMBER TO SAID CLIP-RETRACTED POSITION AND DIRECT SAID PAWL ELEMENT TO ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE OTHER OF SAID RECESSES TO OBTAIN SAID CARTRIDGE UNIT IN SAID POINT-PROJECTED POSITION. 